PineCone Vision Therapy Center offers in-office Vision Therapy Services under the guidance of Dr. Jeffrey Oakland. We have developed a program to evaluate and treat several binocular vision disorders. Whether you or your child are suffering from eye tracking (oculomotor) difficulties, eye teaming/alignment issues, or have reduced vision secondary to strabismus, or amblyopia, we are here to help evaluate and further treat.
Dr. Oakland is residency trained in pediatrics and binocular vision with an additional emphasis on helping those with special needs, and vision related learning problems.
What is Vision Therapy?
Vision therapy is a planned program to help improve basic visual skills. Many visual conditions in children can often times go undetected if specific visual tests are not performed. Even though a child may be seeing well in the distance and up close, it does not automatically mean the two eyes are efficiently working and processing information together.
At PineCone Vision Therapy Center we use several different testing methods to help determine if the patient is a candidate for vision therapy. Treatment for vision therapy can range from a few short weeks to several months, depending on the diagnosis. Our one-on-one approach typically consists of weekly training sessions along with individualized, prescribed, home vision therapy exercises. Each patient’s visual training plan is individualized towards the specific type and severity of difficulties detected. Therefore, no one vision therapy program is exactly alike.
We have had great success with our program and are confident in the changes vision therapy can make for you or your child.
PineCone Vision Center's 3 Step Approach to Vision Therapy:
After the completion of a comprehensive ocular health exam, either with one of our doctor's, or with a referring optometrist, we proceed with the following examinations to further determine the need and treatment time for vision therapy.
A Visual Efficiency Evaluation (VEE)
This examination takes a closer look at how the two eyes are working together, and is completed by Dr. Oakland. The focus of this exam goes beyond whether the patient can see 20/20. Aspects of vision such as eye teaming, eye tracking, and eye focusing are evaluated. This examination does typically take one hour.
A Visual Information Processing Evaluation (VIP)
This examination further investigates how a patient processes the information that they are seeing. Some of the areas evaluated include letter reversal frequency, visual motor integration, visual discrimination, and further eye tracking assessments (relating to skipping or re-reading words). This examination is performed with a Vision Therapy Technician and typically takes an hour to complete.
Results and Recommendation Consult
If the patient is a child, this appointment is for parents or guardians only. During this appointment, Dr. Oakland will review the results from the above testing, and the recommended treatment program is explained. This meeting typically takes one hour, and is typically scheduled in the mornings.
Common Signs and Symptoms
There are common signs and symptoms of learning related vision problems, as well as binocular vision disorders. Below is a list of several possible symptoms:
Avoids reading
Words move or “swim” on the page while reading
Retains information easier when read or spoken to
Complains of headaches or eyestrain after near work
Skips words or lines when reading
Tires easily when reading
Confuses/reverses letters and/or numbers when reading or writing
Difficulty remembering information learned before
Homework takes extreme time to finish
Bright, but struggles taking tests
Goals of Vision Therapy
Vision therapy can aide the patient struggling in the classroom that has underlying visually related learning problems, but can also assist the patient who may be simply suffering from eyestrain. Vision therapy has been proven effective in those patients who are suffering visually after a traumatic brain injury, stroke or other neurological insult.
Our primary goal is to provide more clear, comfortable, efficient binocular vision. Beyond the reduction of visual symptom(s) we strive to provide new foundations for increased self-confidence, self-esteem and visual awareness. Visually, we want to create a new normal for the patient. This new normal can lead to changes beyond just the reduction of symptoms.
Equipment Used for Vision Therapy
Vision Therapy uses several different instruments that you may not encounter while in for your yearly eye health examination. Some of the instruments and equipment include;
Lenses
Prisms
Filters
Occluders
Visual fixation charts
Other specialized equipment for eye teaming, eye tracking, and eye focusing
Computer aided vision therapy activities.
Balance Beams
Vision Quiz
Test your knowledge about your vision and eye care by taking this quiz.
1. The answer is B: False.
A measurement of 20/20 indicates only that a person can see small letters clearly in the distance. Excellent, healthy vision includes many other visual skills, such as coordinating the two eyes together (eye teaming), changing and/or maintaining focus quickly and easily, and moving the two eyes efficiently from one place to another.
2. The answer is B: False.
In general, children do not outgrow eye coordination problems or many other visual problems. When problems occur, steps need to be taken to help children learn to move their eyes smoothly and accurately when reading the words on a page or following a moving object like a ball.
3. The answer is C: 25%.
The percentage of children with vision problems increases as they grow. One out of every four school age children will have a vision problem which could interfere with the ability to learn.
4. The answer is B: 14%.
Regrettably, too many parents overlook a vision examination when preparing their child for school. Although most schools require children to have immunizations and a general health checkup prior to beginning school, few require vision examinations.
5. The answer is A: Vision.
As much as 80% of everything we learn comes to us through our vision. Eye-hand coordination games, observation, reading, watching T.V., using a computer -- these are examples of common visual tasks used to learn about the world around us.
6. The answer is B: False.
Although most of us are born with healthy eyes, many visual skills (e.g. eye focusing, eye coordination and teaming) are learned through a developmental process during childhood -- just like standing, walking, and talking. Not everyone develops the same level of abilities.
7. The answer is A: True.
Many of the same signs and symptoms shown by persons with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder may also be indications of vision problems (e.g. poor concentration, distractibility, avoidance of reading and close work).
8. The answer is B: False.
Problems with eye focusing, eye coordination, eye movement control and visual perception can all interfere with a child's or adult's ability to read or learn. Whenever a learning problem is suspected or "identified", a thorough vision examination needs to be conducted to rule out a possible vision disorder.
9. The answer is B: False.
Successful outcomes resulting from vision therapy are not limited to children. Adults can also benefit. However, effective treatment of a long-standing visual problem is more challenging. This is why early detection and treatment are so very important.
10. The answer is B: False.
Most school vision screenings test distance vision only. Clear distance vision has little bearing on how effectively a child uses his eyes for close work and reading in the classroom.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is being treated/evaluated in Vision Therapy?
Eye movement disorders (ocular motility dysfunctions)
Strabismus is the turning/crossing in, out, up, or down involuntarily of one or both eyes. There are four different types of strabismus;
Esotropia: Inward eye turn
Exotropia: Outward eye turn
Hypertropia: Upward eye turn
Hypotropia: Downward eye turn
Any word ending in "tropia" signifies a stabismic patient. Stabismus can present as intermittent, constant, and/or alternating.
What is Amblyopia?
Amblyopia can present in several different ways similar to strabismus. Amblyopia is the decrease of vision in one or both eyes caused by a lack of stimulation or neurological development to that eye. Amblyopia does NOT happen in the eye, it occurs in the brain. The types of amblyopia include;
Refractive Amblyopia: decreased vision in one or both eyes caused by certain amounts of farsightedness, nearsightedness, and astigmatism. Refractive amblyopia can present in two different types as well.
Isometropic Amblyopia: High amounts of nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism in each eye causing reduction in vision in both eyes.
Anisometripic Amblyopia: Decreased vision in one or both eyes caused by a significant difference in prescription between eyes.
Strabismic Amblyopia: constant, unilateral, crossing of an eye leading to suppression which creating amblyopia, which results in reduced vision.
How do I know which treatment option is right?
Each patient goes through the four step process as requested by the doctor. Some patient's may not need all four steps in the process and that will be evaluated on a case to case basis. The most important thing to know is that each Vision Therapy treatment program is made specifically for the patient. Not one vision therapy program is like another.
Vision Therapy Key Information
Vision Therapy does not strengthen muscles, they are naturally incredibly strong. Vision therapy helps you control them better.
Optometric Vision Therapy is not to be confused with "See Clearly Method" or any other non-optometric therapy marketed to the public.
Vision Therapy is not a treatment modality limited to children.
Vision Therapy is not a cure-all for every patient with visual difficulties.
Younger children (K-2nd Grade) that struggle in school are more likely to have Visual Information Processing troubles.
Visual efficiency problems tend to affect school performance more so in 3rd grade and up.
PineCone Vision Therapy Center is dedicated to helping patients who are interested in Vision Therapy learn more about the billing and the self submission of Vision Therapy claims to insurance companies. You can either call us at (320) 258-3915, or e-mail us at info@pineconevisioncenter.com.
Patient Financing
PineCone Vision Therapy Center is now accepting CareCredit. CareCredit is another way of financing medical visits or procedures that can be used for anything medical; including outstanding balances, or copay's.
CareCredit works similar to a credit card in which you apply only once for CareCredit and then receive a card to use at your doctor's office. CareCredit can be used for many procedures including:
Chiropractic
Cosmetic
Dental
General Medicine
General Surgery
Hearing
Veterinary Services
Vision Services
Weight Loss
To apply for CareCredit you can either visit their website and apply entirely online, or you can print off an application and bring it to the clinic where we can fax it in for an almost immediate credit decision.
So go ahead and schedule that procedure you have always wanted. Now there is no reason not to!
